Book folder with cushioning end

ABSTRACT

A book folder of tubular form is provided with an end flap structure forming an interior hollow triangular cushioning member at each end. The side panels are of trapezoidal shape and the longitudinal center of the carton is trapezoidal in section.

United States Patent [111 3,896,990

Sieffert July 29, 1975 BOOK FOLDER WITH CUSHIONING END 3,682,370 8/1972 Roas 229/40 3,790,065 2/1974 Carpenter 229/40 [75] Inventor: 5mm", Joke" 3,792,811 2/1974 Carpenter et al.... 229/40 73 Assigneel Hoerner Waldorf Corporation, St 3,861,580 l/1975 Sreffert 229/40 Paul, Minn. I Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead [22] led: Sept 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert M. Dunning; Jerry [21] Appl. No.: 506,522 F. Best 52 us. Cl 229/40; 206/424 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B65D 5/02 A book l r f b lar form is provided with an end [58] Field of Search 229/40; 206/424, 521 flap u i? f rming an interior hollow triangular cushioning member at each end. The side panels are [56] References Cit d of trapezoidal shape and the longitudinal center of the carton 1S trapezoidal in SBCIlOI].

3,399,821 9/1968 Ringholt 229/40 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures i I l I i [41 i I A17 1& I 2} 12 i l l i l i I l i l 41 1 l 1 43 I 57E 22 L57 1 55" l 1 PATENTEUJUL29 197s SHEET 2 3 i 8 96 0 BOOK FOLDER WITH CUSHIONING END to protect the book from damage during shipment and handling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A great number of patents have issued for the shipment of books and objects of this type. Many books, and particularly law books and the like, are very expensive, and if they become damaged in the mail, they are usually returned for a replacement. Thus, it is essential to the printers of such books that they obtain the maximum protection until they reach the hands of the-purchaser.

In my previously filed application Ser No. 409,185, filed Oct. 24, 1973 for Book Folder, I mention a number of previous structures having cushioning end structures. In this previous application, I describe a folder having a generally triangular cushioning member which acts as a cushioning means for the ends of the book.

The present structure bears some similarity to the pre- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in the folder including a bottom panel, side wall panels connected to opposite sides thereof. a top wall panel, and means for connecting the panels in tubular relation. An end wall is connected to each end of the bottom panel and is of generally rectangular form, this end panel terminating in spaced relation to the side edges of the flap extension connected to the ends of the bottom panel. A cushioning panel is hingedly connected to the end panel. The end panel is designed to incline inwardly and the cushioning panel is designed to extend downwardly into edge abutting relation to the bottom panel, thus forming a triangular cushioning member. In other words, the flap structure which is connected to the ends of the bottom panel is very similar to that shown in my previous application which I refer to above except for the fact that the flap structure is somewhat wider at its widest point than the width of the bottom panel. This was not necessary in the previous construction in view of the fact that cover flaps on the top panel completely enclose the flap structure of the folder shown in the previous application. However, in the present design, the flap structure must extend somewhat beyond exten sions of the fold lines connecting the bottom panel to the side wall panels in order that the flap structure completely close the ends of the folder.

The flap structure at each end of the bottom panel includes an end wall of rectangular form hingedly connected to the center portion of the end of the bottom panel, and a cushioning flap of rectangular form hingedly connected to the end panel. In folded form, the end wall extends upwardly and inwardly at an acute angle to the bottom panel. and the cushioning panel extends vertically into edge abutting relation to the bottom panel at its juncture with the end wall. lsosceles triangles have their bases connected to the sides of the end wall. The apexes of these opposed isosceles trian gles are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the bottom panel so that in folded form of the folder the apexes of these triangles lie in vertical planes through the fold lines connecting the bottom panel to the side walls. Fold lines extend from the ends of the end wall to the ends of the fold lines connecting the bottom panel to the side walls, the fold lines connecting the bottom wall to the side wall being shorter than the distance between the fold lines connecting the end walls to the bottom panel. First triangular portions are connected to the angular fold lines just described along one edge and to one equal length side of the isosceles triangles on a second side. The third sides of these triangular portions are free, and lie in vertical planes through the fold lines connecting the bottom panel to the side walls in folded form of the folder.

Extensions of the fold lines connecting the end wall to the cushioning flap extend across the flap structure. Second triangular portions are connected along one edge to the fold line extensions and along a second edge to the other equal length sides of the isosceles triangles. These second triangular portions extend parallel to the bottom panel in folded form of the folder. The third or free edges of these second triangular portions extend along said vertical planes through the fold lines connecting the sides of the bottom panel to the side walls. I I

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a protective package of the type described which uses a minimum of paperboard to produce. This is accomplished by making the bottom walls with the cushioning flap construction attached to the ends thereof somewhat longer than the top panel, the top panel being generally the same length as the book or other object being enclosed. This produces a package having sloping ends due to the shortened length of the top panel. With this arrangement, the container blanks may be dove tailed together with the longer bottom panels dove tailing against the relatively shorter top panels, thus conserving paperboard while at the same time providing an effective cushion for the book r other contents.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carton in its completed form.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the blank showing the cushioning flaps erected with. the remainder of the blank flat.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the container, the position being indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one end of thefolder.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the folder.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the partially folded folder with the cushioning flaps erected.

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the cushioning flaps in erected form, the remainder of the carton being substantially flat.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the folder is formed.

The folder is indicated in its blank form in FIG. 8 of the drawings. As indicated, the blank includes a bottom panel 10 hingedly connected along a longitudinal edge by a fold line 11 to a side wall 12. The bottom panel 10 is also connected along a fold line 13 to a second side wall 14. The side wall 14 is connected along a fold line 15 to a top panel 16. In preferred form, the top panel 16 is connected along a fold line 17 to a glue flap or panel 19.

As is believed obvious, either the side wall 12 of the flap 19 may be considered the side wall. In other words, one of the members 12 or 19 may be omitted, and the edges of the folder may be taped together. Alternatively, a glue flap could be attached to the wall 19 and be adhered or otherwise secured to the bottom panel to hold the structure in tubular form.

End walls 20 are connected to the center portions of the bottom walls 10 along fold lines 21. The fold lines 21 are at right angular relation to the previous described fold lines 11, 13, and 17 which are parallel. The end walls are rectangular and are connected along fold lines 22 to generally rectangular cushioning panels 23. The fold lines 21 at opposite ends of the bottom panel 10 are spaced apart a distance which is somewhat greater than the length of the fold lines 11 and 13 which connect the bottom panel 10 to the side walls 12 and 14. Accordingly, angularly extending fold lines 24 extend from the ends of the fold line 21 to the ends of the fold lines 11 and 13. In the folded form of the cushioning flap structure, the end walls 20 are folded inwardly to an acute angle with the plane of the bottom panel 10, and the cushioning panels 23 extend vertically into edge abutting relation to the bottom panel 10.

lsosceles triangle portions 25 are hingedly connected along their bases 26 to the sides of the rectangular end walls 20. As is indicated in FIG. 8, the apexes 27 of these isosceles triangles 25 are located somewhat beyond the extensions of the fold lines 11 and 13 as is indicated by the broken lines 29 and 30. End triangular portions 31 are hingedly connected along the fold lines 24 to the bottom panel 10, and are hingedly connected along fold lines 32 to one equal length side of an isosceles triangle 25. The free edge 33 of each triangle 31 inclines outwardly from the ends of the fold lines 11 and 13 connecting the bottom panel 10 to the side walls 12 and 14. These edges 33 in the folded form of the cushioning flap structure will be directly above the fold lines 11 and 13, or in vertical planes including these fold lines 11 and 13.

Fold line extensions 34 of the fold lines 22 connecting the end walls 20 to the cushioning panels 23 extend across the flap structure in alignment with the fold lines 22. Cushioning panel extensions 35 are connected along fold lines 26 to the sides of the cushioning flaps 23, and are of generally trapezoidal shape.

A triangular portion 36 is provided with one side connected by the hinge line 34 to the trapezoidal cushioning flap extensions 35, and along the fold line 37 to the second equal length side of each of the isosceles triangles 25. The free edge 39 of this triangular section 36 inclines from the apex 27 of the isosceles triangles 25 to the ends of the fold lines 34. In the set up position of the cushioning structure, these triangular areas 36 are parallel with the bottom panel 10 as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. As a result, the top panel 16 is supported by these areas 36 when the folder is completed, and the cushioning panel extensions 35 extend downwardly in edge abutting relation to the bottom panel 10.

The side wall 14 and the wall 19, as well as the side wall 12, are of trapezoidal shape with the shorter parallel sides equal in length to the sides 11 and 13 of the bottom panel 10, and the longer sides 15 and 17, as well as the free edge 40, being equal in length to the length of the folder in folded position. The top panel 16 is connected along a pair of parallel fold lines 41 to closure flaps 42 which are designed to fold down over the end wall panels 20 and to be adhered thereto. The fold lines 41 are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of the book B shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, and in the finished form of the folder, the flaps 42 incline downwardly and outwardly from the top panel 16. The ends of the fold line 41 are connected by fold lines 43 to generally triangular flaps 44 which fold down into face contact with the isosceles triangular portions 25 and are secured thereto. The folded form of the folder is shown in FIG. 1. As is indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawings which shows one end of the folder in plan, the end of the folder is at right angles to the sides thereof, the lower edges of the isosceles triangular portions being in the same vertical plane as the fold lines 21 connecting the end panels 20 to the bottom panel 10. As a result, the blank is somewhat smaller than the blank used in the previous application mentioned above and accordingly is somewhat less expensive to produce. The cushioning for the ends of the books B contained therein is about as equally effective in both structures.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in BOOK FOLDER WITH CUSH IONING END; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A book folder end closure for a book folder having a bottom panel, a first side wall panel, a top panel, and a second side wall panel secured in tubular relation, the bottom panel having an extension flap end structure,

a rectangular end wall secured to the center portion of said bottom panel along a line of fold terminating short of the side edges of said bottom panel,

a substantially rectangular cushioning panel connected to said end wall along a fold line,

said rectangular end wall extending upwardly and inwardly from the end of said bottom panel at an acute angle thereto,

said cushioning panel extending downwardly into edge abutting contact with said bottom panel and at substantially right angles thereto,

said end wall cushioning panel, and bottom panel forming a hollow right triangular cushioning member,

isosceles triangles having their bases foldably connected to the sides of said end wall, the distance between the apexes of said isosceles triangles being greater than the width of said bottom panel so as to lie in vertical planes through the side walls and against said side walls,

fold lines extending angularly from the ends of said line of fold connecting said end wall to said bottom wall to the ends of the fold lines connecting said bottom panel to said side wall panels, said fold line connecting said bottom panel to said end walls being located beyond the ends of the fold lines connecting said bottom panel to said side walls,

triangular flaps between said angularly extending fold lines and one equal length side of said isosceles triangles whereby the one side of said isosceles triangles extend on substantially a vertical plane through the fold line connecting said bottom panel to said end wall, extension fold lines aligned with said the fold line connecting said end wall to said cushioning flap extending across said said extension flap structure,

right triangular flaps between said extension fold lines and the other equal length sides of said isosceles triangles, said right triangular flaps extending parallel to said bottom panel and underlying said top panel, and

the portions of said extension flap structure beyond said extension fold lines and connected to said cushioning panel extending downwardly into edge contact with said bottom panel.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including a flap foldably connected to the end of said top panel secured in face contact with said end wall panel.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which the flap connected to said top panel is trapezoidal with the longer parallel edge thereof connected to said top panel.

4. The structure of claim 1 and including flaps hingedly connected to said top panel folded into face contact with each of said isosceles triangular flaps.

5. The structure of claim 4 and in which said flaps hingedly connected to said top panel are substantially isosceles triangular in shape with one equal side thereof hinged to said top panel.

6. The structure of claim 4 and including a flap hinged to an end of said top panel and secured in face contact with said end wall panel.

7. The structure of claim 5 and including a flap hinged to the end of said top panel and secured in face contact with said end wall panel.

8. The structure of claim 1 and in which said side walls are trapezoidal in shape with the shorter parallel edges thereof hinged to said bottom panel.

9. The structure of claim 1 and including a glue flap overlying one side panel and secured thereto to hold the folder in tubular relation.

10. The structure of claim 9 and in which said glue flap is trapezoidal and substantially coextensive with said one side panel. 

1. A book folder end closure for a book folder having a bottom panel, a first side wall panel, a top panel, and a second side wall panel secured in tubular relation, the bottom panel having an extension flap end structure, a rectangular end wall secured to the center portion of said bottom panel along a line of fold terminating short of the side edges of said bottom panel, a substantially rectangular cushioning panel connected to said end wall along a fold line, said rectangular end wall extending upwardly and inwardly from the end of said bottom panel at an acute angle thereto, said cushioning panel extending downwardly into edge abutting contact with said bottom panel and at substantially right angles thereto, said end wall cushioning panel, and bottom panel forming a hollow right triangular cushioning member, isosceles triangles having their bases foldably connected to the sides of said end wall, the distance between the apexes of said isosceles triangles being greater than the width of said bottom panel so as to lie in vertical planes through the side walls and against said side walls, fold lines extending angularly from the ends of said line of fold connecting said end wall to said bottom wall to the ends of the fold lines connecting said bottom panel to said side wall panels, said fold line connecting said bottom panel to said end walls being located beyond the ends of the fold lines connecting said bottom panel to said side walls, triangular flaps between said angularly extending fold lines and one equal length side of said isosceles triangles whereby the one side of said isosceles triangles extend on substantially a vertical plane through the fold line connecting said bottom panel to said end wall, extension fold lines aligned with said the fold line connecting said end wall to said cushioning flap extending across said said extension flap structure, right triangular flaps between said extension fold lines and the other equal length sides of said isosceles triangles, said right triangular flaps extending parallel to said bottom panel and underlying said top panel, and the portions of said extension flap structure beyond said extension fold lines and connected to said cushioning panel extending downwardly into edge contact with said bottom panel.
 2. The structure of claim 1 and including a flap foldably connected to the end of said top panel secured in face contact with said end wall panel.
 3. The structure of claim 2 and in which the flap connected to said top panel is trapezoidal with the longer parallel edge thereof connected to said top panel.
 4. The structure of claim 1 and including flaps hingedly connected to said top panel folded into face contact with each of said isosceles triangular flaps.
 5. The structure of claim 4 and in which said flaps hingedly connected to said top panel are substantially isosceles triangular in shape with one equal side thereof hinged to said top panel.
 6. The structure of claim 4 and including a flap hinged to an end of said top panel and secured in face contact with said end wall panel.
 7. The structure of claim 5 and including a flap hinged to the end of said top panel and secured in face contact with said end wall panel.
 8. The structuRe of claim 1 and in which said side walls are trapezoidal in shape with the shorter parallel edges thereof hinged to said bottom panel.
 9. The structure of claim 1 and including a glue flap overlying one side panel and secured thereto to hold the folder in tubular relation.
 10. The structure of claim 9 and in which said glue flap is trapezoidal and substantially coextensive with said one side panel. 